AP’s St. Louis The United States defeated Guatemala 2-1 on Wednesday night to go to its first CONCACAF Gold Cup final since 2021, thanks to two goals from Diego Luna in the first fifteen minutes.
Luna gave the United States the lead with a left-footed effort in the fourth minute and then scored his third goal in two games with a right in the fifteenth.
The tournament’s second goal came in the 80th minute when 18-year-old Olger Escobar, who was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, cut inside and slipped a shot from inside the area between Matt Freese and the far post. In the second minute of stoppage time, Freese stopped a shot by Jos Morales that was headed for the far post.
The U.S.’s final competitive game before their World Cup start in June is against either Honduras or Mexico, the reigning champions, for the title on Sunday in Houston. Canada has won one Gold Cup, the United States seven, and El Tri nine.
For the thirteenth time, the 16th-ranked Americans made it to the Gold Cup final. Mexico has lost all five of the finals.
In the final 30 minutes of the first half, the U.S. was outshot 13-1 by No. 106 Guatemala, who has never been to the final.
After Alex Freeman crossed for Malik Tillman, Luna scored his first goal. Goalie Kenderson Navarro spilled Luca de la Torre’s shot after he touched the ball to him. In a rapid reflex, Luna moved the ball from his right foot to his left before shooting over Navarro’s extended right hand.
A cross-field pass from Tillman approximately 40 yards out was retrieved by Luna eleven minutes later. Luna dribbled in, stepped over defender Jos Carlos Pinto, and deposited the ball inside the near post from the edge of the penalty area.
Two former American players were among Guatemala’s starters: 28-year-old defender Aaron Herrera had one appearance for the Americans in 2021 before switching in 2023, while 29-year-old striker Rubio Rubin made seven appearances for the Americans from 2014–18 before moving in 2022.
In the 29th minute, Rubin placed the ball past Freese, but the goal was disallowed for offside. In the 34th, Freese saved Rubin with a kick.
